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S E E M O N 8 



TRIBUTES OF RESPECT 
ON tup: occasion of the death of the 

HON. PETER D. VROOM, 

1 
EX-GO VEKNOR OF THE WT^TE OF NEW JERSEY, 



REV. ABRAHAM MESSLER, D. D., 



SOMERVILLE, N. J., 1874. 



SOMERVILI.E, N J. 

J. K. SCHENK MEMHENGEK l'J£I.NIEK. 

1874. 






a 



Hb^-uo 



w 



FUNERAL SERMON. 



" Knowing in ourselves that ye liavo in Heaven, a better and more en- 
dnnna: substance. "—Ileb. x. 84. 

The i.ersons referred to were sufferers, and took joyfully 
the '-spoiling- of their goods," because thev kneic that in 
a better world they had a better and more enduring sub- 
stance; i. e., their assurance of a blessed life in the future, 
enabled them to endure patiently-even joyfully, the worst 
evils of the present, in order to attain it. So it is always. 
The hope of immortal blessedness throws its radiance bacic 
«ipon the darkest hours of human life, and makes their 
sorrows less. We can part with all things cheerfully- 
even with life its(Mf-when we know that we have a glori. 
ous life assured to us in Heaven, waiting our coming^ and" 
l)ossession. We remark therefore— 

I. There is a state of future blessedness ])i-epared for 
Christians in Heaven. This is taken for granted in the 
words of our text, rather than directly affirme<l ; and it is 
a fact that all men, in some way, entertain this belief. It 
has been shad.lowed forth in ,.vry religious enu'd, in more 
or less clearness, in all time. It seems indeed, to be, in 
some sense, a human instinct. It ro..ts itselfin a Ohristi-in's 



4 FUNERAL 8ERM0N. 

CMMisciousness, as one of his clearest, strongest and most 
abiding convictions. He regards the provision of it as be- 
ing one of the grandest results of Christ's work in dying for 
men, and he believes in his own future enjoyment of it, as 
one of the greatest blessings which Christ ])romises to 
those who receive him and believe in his name. His faith 
in Christ enables him to "read his title clear, to mansions 
in the skies," and to feel that those mansions are to be his 

home. 

II. The enjoyments of this state of immortal blessedness 
are ''real, being a better a-d more enduring substance." 
Not material ir^deed, but still, just as real as if actually 
formed out of material things. Spiritual being is as real 
as being, as mortal being is, or can possibly be ! God is 
a spirit, angels are spirits, the human soul is a spirit and 
each one of these has an existence as true and as real, as 
any material organization or creation can have. 

This substantive realitij is put here, in opposition to vis- 
ions, imaginations, surmisings, or expectations. The fact 
is. Heaven, as a state and a life, is just as real as the earth, 
and our life here is. Our not seeing it, and its being re- 
served as a manifestation of the future, is no reason why 
we should doubt it ; for in truth, and in fact, the glory of 
it lies all around us in a thousand beautiful forms, and the 
human soul, just when bursting away from its earthly fet- 
ters, often has a vision of it : which in brightness is like 
rapture— a foretaste and an antepast, given in assurance 
iuid ..t what is waiting and will be enjoyed in ].(rfect ful- 
ness when we have como t<i the heavenly state. 



FUNERAL SERMON. 5 

ni. Heaven is a ie^(Je>- substance. There are many good 
things kindly given us in our earthly life. Oh how many 
there are ! and how gracious God is in giving them in such 
profusion : but they are not Heaven — not in any form like 
Heaven ! Heaven is more, is higher, is [)urer, is more 
complete. There is no sin, no suffering, no death in 
Heaven. The soul is not fettered there, as it always is 
here : but free to rise up in grateful adoration and praise, 
even to the very highest note. It is neai- God ; it sees 
God, and it experiences and knows the full glory of tliat 
high estate. There are no weaknesses, interruptions, dis- 
tractions or preventions to mar its perfect joy. It has at- 
tained ; it is at home and at rest ! In every way — in all 
senses, Heaven, as a state of enjoyment and a condition of 
life, is infinitely better than the world can ever be ; and 
this is not disj)araging what we jjossess now: it is only 
properly exalting what is to come, and what we shall real- 
ize when we are at home with the saints in Heaven. 

IV. Hiviven is a m )re e^u^^'^rmy substance. The eter- 
nal years of God belong to, antl are absorbed in the Heav- 
enly life ; and it goes on rising up from (jne degree to an- 
other, until the fulness of absolute perfection is attained, 
which is described as "a fashioning into the divine imai;e," 
and a ])assing on from '"glory to glory." What such words 
import, waits the future ix-velations of the Heavenly state 
to interpret and iiiak(^ manif'st to us fullv. We may 
therefore cheer our desponding hours Iiei-e, bv singing : 



6 FUNERAL SERMON. 

Kfjoicc, Oh sirievinn; heart. 

The hours fly fast ; 
With each some sorrow dies. 
With each some shadow flies. 

Until at last 
The dawninjj; in the East 
Bids weary night depart. 

And pain is ever pa.st I 

V. We can know in ourselves that we have in 
Heaven a better and more enduring substance ! This sup- 
poses that religious sentiment and consciousness is real not 
only, but that it is the best and highest evidence of the 
certainty of our future hopes ; and is it not so ? If we 
are conscious and know in ourselves anything pertaining to 
sentiment, enjoyment, and experience, can we have any 
better evidence of its reality ? Religion is a sentiment ; 
and in its practical form and power, it is more a sentiment 
than it is anything else ! our experience of its influence is 
a reality. We know in ourselves that we have had such 
an experience and felt such a power. Now, in Scripture, 
this is represented as a "regeneration mito life" — as a 
"passing from death to life" — as a "new creature" — as 
"Christ formed within us tlie hope of glory !'' In its out- 
ward manifestations it exhibits itself in a life — an all-con- 
trolling })ovver, which makes us what we were not, and ena- 
bles us to live as wi? would not have lived, but for what has 
been effected in us; and this efficient ])o\v('r is not human, 
l)ut a manifestation of the gracious intliiciicc of the Holy 
Si)irit. 

Now the life of religion, and eternal life in Heaven, are 
only different conditions of the same ])Ower, in different 



FUNERAL SERMON. 7 

states of being. To have the sentiment of religion deeply 
impressed upon us — to have a consfiousness of it, is there- 
fore to have an earnest and a beginning of Heaven. In 
other words, we know then in ourselves that there is a 
Heaven, and that in the Heavenly state we shall have a 
"better and more enduring substance," It is eternal life 
in its first state and embodies all its future realizations. 

I am persuaded that the strength of hope and the tri- 
umphant confidence of true piety, is the result chiefly of this 
inward kncnvledge ; in other words, belongs to an experience 
of the reality and the ])ower of the sentiment of religion in 
the heart ! The martyrs faith and steadfast endurance 
of every torment, even of death itself, was evidently some- 
thing more than mere belief in doctrines or an attachment 
to ])rinci])les, however important they might be, or be felt 
to be ! They knew in them.selves that they had in Heaven 
a better and more enduring substance ; and hence, neither 
the spoiling of their goods, nor the ])resence of a ])ainfnl 
death could mov(^ them from tlie sure steadfastness ot their 
confidence. When the choice wa«, to suft'er now or to 
loose the coming glory, they could not, and did not hi'sitate 
for a moment ! The ludtcr and the higher had to be se- 
cured at all events; and their deep conviction of its inijMirt- 
ance and its gloi-y, left them nothing else to do. 

Novv our departed friend, Peter D. Vroom, had this con- 
sciousness. His wlioic; life was a manifestation of the pow- 
er, the permanency and the ])erva(ling intinenee of religions 
sentiment. He made a ])r()fession of this and united with 
our CMiuicli. on a confession of his faith, .">! vears a^'o 



8 FUNERAL SERMON. 

last May, (Iniing wliat we dosignate as the '*Gieat Revival !" 
I found him here, sitting as an. elder, when T came ti> occu- 
l)y the office of pastor, 41 years since. Our confiilential in- 
tercourse and friendship commenced then, and, has never 
been intermitted. He has lived away iiom ns for some of 
the last years, hut he has ever continued with us in spirit, 
and claimed this Church as his religitnis home ! It was 
his tather's Church. He grew up in it, was early instruct- 
ed in its doctrines, and loved it dearly. He lirst experien- 
ced the power of Christian sentiment here ; and the last 
words he spake to me were to this etiect : "1 have been 
with you, and am one of you, and I shall be with you," and 
then his emotions choked his words, but he meant to say — 
"I shall be with you when 1 am no more." It is right 
that h' (-hould be brought here, and these last wuids 
s})oken of him here, among those who are left of the gener- 
ation who liived him as a Christiiin b''other, honored him as 
a Christian man, and reverenced liim. wlien he sat here an 
Elder in the church of God. 

Governor Vroom's religious sentiment was far above the 
(idinary type. It manifested a decided power and activity. 
It jiervaded his whole conduct, and beeame the controlling 
element in his thiily life ! It jjrodueed a conscientiuus in- 
tegrity and purity which manifested itself in everything he 
said and did, at the bar, in his official capacity as the chief 
Executive officer of the State, in his decisions as Chan- 
cellor, in Congress, when re[)resenting the United 
States at the Court in Berlin, and as a Trustee of tin* 
"Siiddnij,- Euiul."" Those who had occasion to transact busi- 



FUNERAL SEUMOX. 9 

iiess with him in any and all of tlu'se official ivlations, have 
ever given but one account of what h^' was^ and what he 
did. There wa's even a delicaey in his conseientiousness, 
and an accuracy in his integrity, which impressed the ob- 
servant and excited often their surj)rise and adnnratiun. He 
would have nothing but what was just, and right, and true, 
and nothing could entice or swerve him from it. 

He was a devotional man ; and manifested its infiuence, 
not only on Sabbath during public wjrshij), but in his 
household, and in his most ])iivate houi's. 1 have travelled 
v.'ith him, roomed with him at places of public resort, staid 
with him in his private family, here and in other lands, and 
seen am^jle evid(;nce of this bear.tiful spirit in every one of 
these situations. From the time that he made a j)ublic 
]irofession of the Christian ndigion, he set up an altar in his 
liouse and offered on it daily a saci'ificeof pray -rand praise^ 
It was with him, something more always, than a mere 
form. He felt it to be an important duty wdiich he owed 
to himself and to his household ; while at the same time 
ho enjoyed it as a religious service in whici) lie found uni- 
foredy, delight, eond'ort anil strength ; and he was stead- 
fast in this jtractice to the end of life, as 1 am sure, from a 
person d kntnvledge of the man and a long ac({uaintance 
with his sentiments and feelings. His ))rayers often im- 
liressed me as beautiful models of fervent piety and iium- 
ble childlike faith. They were penitent from a sense 
<d" sin, grateful in recognizing the redemption of Christ, 
and trustful of the ])romis;.'d nrMcies of a su[)ei-intendiug 
providence, mingled always with (jarnest supplications for 



10 FUNERAL SERMON. 

grace, stren<i:;th, comfort and peace, in all the various trials 
and temptations of a sinful world ! He seemed to me of- 
ten when praying, to be the humblest, sincerest, and the 
most trusting Christian I have ever known. 

But with all this childlike simplicity of character, he 
was a strong, and a decided man — very strong in his sense 
of right, and his resolution to have the right done, and to 
contend for it unto the very last ; and any man who went 
about to resist him, neiMled to be well armed indeed. He 
prevented in his official and professional life, a vast amount 
of wrong from being done ; and his memory will be cher- 
ished long among all the noble and the good, who had oc- 
casit)!! to ask his personal aid in their various difficulties ! 

He was a grave man, constitiitionaliy inclined to nervous 
de})ression ! He suffered from it often acutely. In his 
last sickness, Ik^ was at first ])eculiarly depressed ! The 
fear of death was strong u])on him, and his mind almost in 
total darkness. I reasoned with him, a|)parently with 
some success. When I left him, he at letist seemed to be 
more composed and trustful. I reminded him that dying 
grace was not necessary Ix^i'ore dying, and expressed a firm 
belief that it would be given liim when needed; and it was ! 
The gloom ])assed com])letely away from his mind, and liis 
hope of Heavenly joy became assured. Every fear and 
doubt vanished or was removed, and he seemed to those who 
watched by iiim. to be ])erfectly composed and happy. His 
face, for several days, wore the most radiant exi)ression, 
and he said : ''he wished every one to know how precious 
Jesus had Ijccu to him.'' This continucfl ;is long as the 



FUNERAL SERMON. 11 

control of his faculties remained unioipaired. Even when 
from weakness and exhaustion, his me:nory and reasoning 
powers were ncjarly k)st to him, he yet constantly appeared, 
as if he was dwelling upon heavenly things, or was already 
realizing the Joys of the heavenly state. His frequent ex- 
pression was "Come blessed Jesus," or else, "I want to go 
home." It was almost a perfect revelation of what has 
been so graphically sketched by a ])oet : 



Have we not caught that sniUing, 

On some beloved face. 

As if a Heavenly sound were wiling 

The soul from its earthlj' place 'i 

The distant sound and sweet. 

Of the Master's coming feet I 

We may clasp the loved one faster. 

And plead for a little while, 

But who can resist the Master ? 

And we read by that brightening smile, 

That the tread we may not liear. 

Is drawing smvlv near — " 



It was nnquc^stionably, an exjiresFion (»f the joy within 
his soul, and th;- rapture he oxperiemu'd in coniiiiuning 
witli Heaven. 

The last day or two he seemed to be constantly looking 
for some one to come and take him away. His recitation 
of Hymns and Scri])ture, was wonderful. His whole soul 
evidently was full of truth ; b'-aiitifiil inith,an(l lie joyed in 
it! The last connected words wliieli could be undeislood 
were : "I am going home this morning," and he did go ! 
Ves, hoine to the glorious mansions, whicii our Saviour has 



12 FUNERAL SERMON. 

assured us, are iJi-epiucd for Jn's own in our Heavenly Fath- 
er's house. 

Home :m<l at rest 
T.ikf closiiiu: HoAvers at night. 
'Till Heaven the morn shall bless. 
And bring a brighter light. 

Thus (lying- orace (.-anie in rich a})UU(lance in dying mo- 
ments, and he waited only to be called UMward. 

We have been constrained to dwell to this extent, upon 
the Christian character of our departed friend. The effect 
of his noble life must not be lost ; and the finishing toucli 
which his dying hours gave to the piety which he professed 
and luiiforndy manifested, was too sweet and ])r(^cious to be 
omitted. Our only regret is, that circumstances constrain 
to such brevity and jirevent a full and pro])er rin-ord. The 
generation of noble, godly statesmen, to which he belonged, 
is rapidly })assing away — too rapidly for the ))ublic gooil, 
and for the safety of all oiu' important interests He will 
be remembered as one of our greatest. ])urest. and noblest 
men ; and New Jersey has a just ])ri(le in having given her 
full (|Uota of such, to public life. 

We will carry his remains in a few moments, and deposit 
them amid kindred dust. 

'■Such graves as his. are pilgrim shrines. 
Shrines to no creed or code contined : 
The Delphian vales, the Palestines. 
The Meceas of the mind." 

It is a beautiful spot ; he marked the place himself 
where he desirf^d to I'cst. It is near the l)aid<s of our 



FUNERAL SERMON. 13 

smootli flowing river, and not far from the old homestead, 
where he first hrcfithed the breath of life. He always lov- 
ed this b:.'aiUiful river and the valley through whieh it 
flows, wi'.h a kind t>f childlike afiection. It seemed to he 
liis lu'aii-ideal of rural beauty, and social and moral excel- 
lency. Its memories were garnered among his treasured 
stores. I often thought he must have spent a very happy 
youth. He seemed to dwell so lovingly upon its scenes. 
His early associates, the men of the past, his youthful aspi- 
rations, and the beginnings of his public life, were constant- 
ly reverted to, with a fondness that was never weary of re- 
])etition and never seemed to be exhausted. He aj)])eared 
often to be saving to himself as he thought of it : 

On thy cjiliii joys, with what (iclitrht I drciim. 
Thou dear green valley, of inj' native stream : 
Fanc}' still waves o'er thee, the enchanting wand. 
And every nook of thine is fairy land. 

When he returned from Berlin, it was his intention to 
purchase his paternal homestead, on the banks of the Rari- 
tan River, fit it up and make it his residence, for at least a 
pirt of the year. There he would be once mf)rein the very 
midst of the scenes of his early lif'. Then he should be 
able to worship again in this old church, which he loved so 
much. When he spoke of it, he seemed to feel that when 
realized, he would l)e almost young again. Rut when he 
came to hiok at the old homestead, it was so changed! 
The fruit trees which he remembered were gone; a grove 
of tall woodland across the river, which protected it from the 



14 FUNERAL SERMON. 

cold north windf?, had hecMi sacrificed ; and wdiat seemed to 
him almost to be profane liands, had changed the form oi" 
the ohl mansion itself. He turned away and came back 
saddened and disappointed. It was not the home that he 
remembered and loved I think he was '^ery sad, for he 
never spake of it again. 

I have uttered these words concerning our friend, because 
f felt that I must do it. Even the reserved delicacy of the 
tenderest hearts which have been listening tome, will justi- 
fy it. I have dwelt almost exclusively upon his Christian 
character. This belonged to me a.s his Pastor and friend. 
Others can — as they will — speak of his secular and ofiicial 
life. They are only a few words that have been spoken: on 
a future occasion 1 intend to speak more fully for the grat- 
ification of his friends in this Church, and this community. 
To me it is one of the safest bereavements of my whole 
lift. He was for so many years my truest and best friend, 
and T (nve him so much. Rut he has foun<l rest, and I 
hope to join him soon. 

This is my comfort, and the same comfort remains for 
his beloved wife and children. There is not one reason why 
any one of them should UKMirn, except that he is no more. 
He lived wfll, lived long, and attained the noblest end of 
living. He died in a good old age, full of days, and full of 
honors, and he rests in God ! Oh that we might live so 
well, and rest so sweetly ! It has been truly and beautifully 
said that "Death is the justification of all the ways of the 
Christian, the last end of all his sacrifices, that touch of 
the great master which completes the picture, hannoni/.in"' 



FUNERAL SEiniON. 15 

ovtn-y sliade, iind givingits tnu' elTi'ct to every line jind tint'' 

We know for us a rest remains, 

When God will srive us sweol release 
From earth, and all our mortal ehains. 
And turn our sufferings into peace. 
What we have won with pain, we hold more fast. 
What tarrietli long, is sweeter at the last. 
Be thou content. 



MEMORIAL SERMO>^. 



Judges viii 32 : And Gideon, the son of Joash, died in a good old age, 
and was Imried in tlio Sepnlehre of Joasli liis father. 

1st. Chron. 29, 28 : And he — David — died in a good old age. full of 
days, wishes, and honor. 

We have quoted thei^e texts, as exainj)le.s of j»;oo>l ii\.'ii 
in official lite, who came to old age and honor tn account 
of their integrity, [)arity and taitlifulness. They covi'i- all 
the ground which we expect to embrace in tlie [)resent dis- 
course, which is to be occu})ied with the life, the character, 
and \\\.(i ijubllc services of one ot the oldest and most hon- 
ored members of this church, recently deceased. He was 
known and loved by many of a former generation, and 
ought to be distinguished in tliis special way by us, be- 
cause of the many excellencies of his character and his emi- 
nence ill |iul)li(' life. 

Peter D. Vroom was born on the 12th day of Deeember 
171)1, on the south banks of the Karitan River, near tli • 
lUnctiou of its two main branches. The old mansim, made 
by him an historical house, is still standing, almost in the 
.same condition in which it was when he came into life, im- 
(h'r its protective roof His j'ather, 0^1. Peter D. Vrot)m, w.is 



MEMOIUAJ. ISEliMON. 17 

a man well known and very lii«;li]y respectccl in his day : a 
Christian nian ot" more; than ordinary intelligence and read- 
ing ; a man who filled several offices of honor and trust in 
the County and in the State. He assisted in raising the 
first company of Militia in HilIsl);)rough Township, at the 
opening of the RcvDlution, and was in the Battle of Bran- 
dy wine, commanding it as Lieutenant, after the Captain, 
Isaac Brokaw, had been shiin. He served the County as 
High Sheriff, and occupied a seat both in the Council and 
Legislativ(; Assembly for several successive years. 

By his mother, Elsie B ogei't, Gov, Vroom was lineally de- 
scended from ';!arali Rapelye,thefirst white child born onLong 
Island, and so inherited some of the noble Huguenot blood. 

His early life was spent in the old homestead. He was 
brought uj) stri(;tly, and early taught the Catechism of our 
Reformed Dutch Church. He attended school at first in 
the "0/fZ Red Scliool House." on the riv(?r banks, below 
the crossing at Beekman's Lane : but in LSOG, at 12 years 
of age, he commenced the study of the Latin and Crreek lan- 
guages, ]n'eparatory to a collegiate coui'se, under Jaeoh 
Kirkpatrick, in the Somerville Acc:idemy: walking daily, 
and i-etui-ning the whole distance from his father's house to 
Somervilli'. He entered Columbia College as a junior in 
180G and graduated in 1808 with honor, at the early age of 
seventeen years Almost immediately, he ('ntere(i the office 
of (x.orge McDonald in Somerville, as a student at law 
ami cam' to th" bar in 1813 after the usird t-Min of study; 
becoming a Counselloi' in 181(1, and a Sergeant-at-iaw in 
1828 in dfie course. He f .und there. Stockton, .Johnson, 



18 MEMORIAL SERMOX. 

Scott, Williamson, the two Fr(3linghuysens, Frederick and 
Theodore, as competitors. Vouii«>- as he was, he took his 
place among these eminent men. not as an inferior, but as a 
younger member of an honorable profession, who expected 
to be their equal in due time. 

He commenced the practice of his profession, by opening 
an office at Schooley's Mountain Springs. A year and a half 
subsequently, he removed to Hackettstown, in Sussex Coun- 
ty, and two years afterwards, to Flemington, in Hunter- 
don County. He made friends, and gained clients in both 
these places, who adhered to him as long as they lived. 
In 1819 he returned to Somerville, and occujned the resi- 
dence and office of his preceptor, George McDonald, liaving 
married on the 21st of May, 1817, Anna Dumont. He 
had already in these early years, made for himself a reputa- 
tion for integrity and ability which promised largely, and 
he soon came to be esteemed one of the most i)roinin('iit 
young Barristers in the Stat;-\ In a short time his eminenee 
was universally acknowledged. Chief Justice Kirki)atrick 
spoke of him on one occasion, in delivering an opinion from 
the Bench, as "a Counsellor whose acuteness and accuracy 
is inferior to none of his standing, at the Bar.'' He was 
soon known, not only as an able, but an honest and honora- 
ble lawyer. A writer refering to his attainments in mature 
life, says : "it may safely be said of him, that, occuitying as 
he did, a first ))osition at the bar, there was no })ractitioner 
who coiuuiandcd, by his ability, his sound judgnaent, and 
his vast exjx'rienee, nioi-e unlimited conhdenee and respect;" 
ot no one eould it more projicily bt> said, he wa's vir Justus 



Mb: MORI AL SERMON. TO 

et tencix propositi, ami at the tiiiie of liis death, ho was the 
oldest Couuselh)!- at the bar of the Sui)renie Court, in his 
native State, having- seen all the eminent men, once asso- 
ciated with him, called to their rest. 

He continued to reside in Sjmerville from 1819 until the 
sprinsj; of 1841, almost univers illy !)eIoved. In th,' ni'an- 
time he had been subjected to atHiction in the death, lirst 
of his litth' cliihlren, and then of his bek)ved wife, on the 
fir.sc day of September, 1829. He had also, ai'ter mature 
reflection and from a deep sense of the importance of the 
stej) he was taking, in May, 1822, united with this church 
on confession of his faith. His parents were mend^ers, his 
wife was an earnest and a b.'autiful Christian, and he iiim- 
self, after making his confession of faith ever afterwards 
adorned the doctrines which hj professed by a ])ure and 
liojy life, in which was abundantly manifested the power of 
piety and jiractical godliness. He was an Elder of this 
Church fri'(|ueiitly, until he removed to Trenton. He had 
its welfare always in his heart. He represented it often in 
the General Synod. He was one of the committee a})- 
pointed to the Synod in 1830, to revise the constitution of 
oui' chui":;ii, and wrote tlu' cliaptrr on diseipline, alnrist ex- 
actly as it was ad ojited. It i-; a line exhibition of a I)road 
and judicious h'gal mind, applying the gre-it prinei]iles of 
justice and truth, in tlnur connection with the jjropcr dis- 
ci|)line of th;' chureh, in larigu igc which is at onci- accu- 
rate, comjii'chciisive and ih-'initc Thcr.' is really nothing 
<<|ual to it in any other b lok <A' discipline tluit I am ac- 
<|nainred with 



20 MEMORIAL SEKMON. 

Darin- the discns^ioiis which ensued, preparat.-ry to the 
adoption'^of this constitution, he was often l)ronglit into 
c.uflict in debate, with the Hon. Abnihaui Van Vechten, 
of Albany, and then we had the very finest possihle disphiy 
offorensic argument and logic. The result when reached, 
genevallv seemed to settle the question fully and F.rever, in 
the minds of those who had heard the |)rof)und arguments 
adduced on either side 

During almost the whole period of his residence in Som- 
erville, h". was Superintendent of the Sabbath School, and 
gave his personal attendance to its exercises on the bab- 
bathdijy. This school was organized in 181G on the 
the first Sabbath in Ap/il, by a few persons under the in- 
fluence of Mr.. Rev. J. S. Vredenburgh, and was one ot 
the fii St Sabbath Schools in the State of New Jersey. Two 
others it is understood were coeval with it ; one at New 
Brunswick, brought into existence through the agency of 
Mrs. J. R. Hardenburgh ; and anotlu'r at Elizabeth-town, 
by Mrs. Dr. McDowel. Our school has lived and flourished 
through all the intervening years, been a fountain of life 
to the Church, and ought to live in all coming time. Th • 
mode of conducting Sabbath schools, has greatly changed 
since the first efforts were mad.' in those early days. To 
me it seems, that all th. changes have not brn f .r the bet- 
ter. When the pupils were taught the Catechisms, com- 
mitted to memory and recited the Scriptures and so many 
of our beautiful hymns, I believe really that there was more 
important instruction imiiarted and more good done. I 
know at 'ieast, that many of our best, most useful and ex- 



MEMORIAL SEKMON. 21 

Ci-lli'ut nH'inl)eis of the cluuvli, were trained up under Gov. 
VrodUi and his associates. His heart was engaged deeply 
in this good work, an>l he has often said that he enjoyed it 
greatly. Some of his best and happiest hours were spent 
in it. and perha[)S h(^ did as niueh good in this humble way 
as in higher and more ])ublic employments. 

When it became necessary, in 1834, to rebuild this 
Church — an enterprise which Gov, Vroom, with many 
others, believed to have been much too long postponed ; he 
became one of five men, who donated the largest sum tliat 
was given in aid of the work. Indeed, witliout these dona- 
ti<ms, it is hardly ]n-obable that the ellort could have been 
made suocessful. It had often l)een attempted before, and 
finally gained the })opular assent only thr(nigh stress of cir- 
cumstances. I lemember well, how entiiely his heart was 
in it, and how he rejoiced in the happy c )mi»letion of tlu' 
building in which we now wi^rship. 

Gov. Vroom continued to reside in Somerville until 1841, 
when, having resum hI his practice at the Bar, and his busi- 
ness being j)rincii)ally in the Su[)rerae Court at Trenton, 
convenience seemed to require a change. He left his place 
among us, l)ut his heart continued with us still. He i-e- 
garded this Church as his Church ; and always loved, when 
he could, to retuiii here to be present at its Cominiuiion 
seasons. No one was ever more dee])ly interested in every 
thing having relation to its ])eace and prosperity, and no 
one rejoiced mi»re wiieii it seemc'd to be blessed and nour- 
ished. Vou icmi'inb-r hi»w he came here at the Semi-Cen. 
tenii'v of our (Jountv l)il)le Soeietv, and made one >>[' hi.. 



22 MEMORIAL 8ERM0N. 

finest aii.l most efFcctive public addresses. It was the last 
time his voice was heard amon- us, c()mmeiidin>,^ to his fel- 
low citiz'us the sciii)tiii-es, the religion of Christ which they 
teach, and the necessity of jiractical godliness in life and m 

death. 

The last change wdiich he made in the form of his lite 
while among us, was one of great imi)..rtance to him, and^ 
proved, I think, to he eminently proper and productive of 
happiness. Ho contracted on the 4th of November, 1840, 
a second marriage with Maria Matilda, the only daughter 
of Uen. Wall, of Burlington. He was at the tim<- a mem- 
ber of Congress. In the spring of the next year h^ tixed 
his residence finally in Trenton. In that city he continu.Hl 
to reside, with the exception of the four years which he 
spent in Berlin, Prussia, until his death. 

This siMMUs the proper place to mention two great sor- 
rows whi(d> f dl upon our friend after he liad lemoved from 
us, ill til.' death of his tw.) sons. John <lied May "iTth, 
1865. in a most sudden and unexpected manner, sitting in 
his father's office at Trenton. He was perhaps one of the 
finest educated young lawyers at the bar of the State. Af 
ter a full course at Rutgers' he studied law in his father's 
office, and received license a few nnniths iK-fore his father 
was api.ointed to the Mission in Berlin. He went with 
him there, and during the first winter attended a course of 
lectures in the c(d(d)rated University in that city, in law 
and philosophy. During the next summer he traveled ex- 
t.-nsively. and mostly on f )ot, through Grermany, SNvil/eiland 
.^,^,1 Italv— rrniaining a long time in Iv>me. and studying 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 23 

thoroughl}- its liistory, antiquities and art-collections. 
Then he spent the winter in Paris, and made himself mas- 
ter of the French language. With all these advantages he 
returned home to commence the practice of his ]irofession 
in Jersey City. He had already gained a }>rominent place 
at the Bar, wiien death took him, and cut off suddenly all 
till' budding hopes wliich seemed to })roniise so much fruit ! 
The affliction bowed his father down almost to the earth — 
'die mourned for him as for his first born." 

Then came the death of Govie his youngest son, just after 
he had finished his collegiate course, when his father 
thought to make him his com})anion, and lean u|)()n him in 
hij-- old age, and have him attend to all liis business which 
was l)eco:iiing burdensome. Oh ! I remember well how he 
sorrowed under these bereavements. He seemed like good old 
Jacob, to be prepared to say, " I shall go down to the grave 
with my sons mourning." But like a Christian man, he 
justified God and waited in ])atience to see why he had been 
called to suffer so' much in the destruction of his fondest 
hopes. That he ever saw how the loss could be made uj) to 
him. we cannot affirm, but that he waited patiently for the 
fuitilhui'nt of the ])romise, " all things shall work tog'^ther 
for good," tve have sufficient assurance, for lie went on his 
way. tiusting in God and b-licving that "what we know 
notnow, we shall know hereafter ;" and thought most of 
"the loving kindness of the Lord " 

We shall be obliged to return and to speak more fully of 
some of the circumstances alludrd to in this briff way. in 
another c">nneetion. ami therefore, proceed to delineate the 
character of oui- friend, because 



24 MEMORIAL ^ERMOX. 

'•These are dceils that should not pass away. 
And names that should not wither." 

As a. nan wc u.ay say h. had a [.resence tliat was im- 
pressive, and indicated to an intelligent nbservev ti.e M.pe- 
,ior qualities which dislingnished the individual. Perhaps 
it was trn.- ..f him, as it was sometimes said, that tne first 
sight seenied to give the idea of something stern and almost 
Jrhiding. He certainly was not a smiler or a fiatterer; he 
did not"try to insinuate himself into any on.'s confidence, 
and he never went about n.akino friends, by seeming to be 
all things to all .nen. But alway when you came to know 
bim, and had inspired his confidence or gamed lus esteen, 
you found that there never was a kinder, a truer, or a no- 
bler heart beating in any .nan's bosom. His frtends were 
bis friends always, unless they rudely or deceitfully f.'le.ted 
bis esteen, : and perhaps be lost as few of tbetn as ever 
^„„ ,„^„ aid. He certainly bad as tnany who were w.llu.g 
to go with bim to tbe end, as ever any ma,, had. Aroun 
bi,n -athced such a band of friends as tbe world knows but 
few "the noblest nan.es b. ,l.e g.vat host of truth's advane- 
in. .■a.,ks.- I th.nk it is true, that his f.b .,ds not only 
,.,.ew in bis esteen, constantly, but that be held tl.e.n ,'very 
dav bv a lir.ner and stronger grasp. The nearer they ca.ue to 
bis' l,..'art, tl,.. war,u..r th.^y felt i,s palsiti ...s t , b •, an 1 '.be 
„„„,, thev attached tbe.usehes ,o bin,, the more ti.ey saw 
,„,,,„„;„ b.. descved it I He was so ho.,est, so unsopl..s- 
U«.ted,so.nagnanin,ons..sotn.e,sownli,.gtoallow ,rb,,- 

,„„. weakness, if he foun.l that it earned w.th ., a h:..,t, 

,,^,, , „.,,;a,„„„„,l to loose bis f,iends. He b.dia.tb.e 

„„., ,,,„isl,ed no .norbid. ,n.santb,opie senl..ne.,ls 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 2r> 

He kiKMv iiii'u, and wcl'loiu triisteil wliere there was no in- 
tegrity or self respeet: or refused liis confidence where there 
were qualities which gave i)roi)er security in its bestowal. 
His sense of honor, integrity and ui)rightni^ss influenced him 
in everything. He would support his friend or defend his 
clients to thi' last : hut a miscreant, a scoundrel, or an ac- 
knowledged criminal, could iind no help from him ! He 
was an example to be copied by men in tlie legal })rofession 
and on the l)encli, and if his upright, honorable and truth- 
ful course, was always followed, justice would 1)3 more 
rightly admiuisteied, })rop(M'ty be more secure, and fraud 
and vice seldomer esca])e nuM'ited coiidemnatio'i ! There is 
nothing that demoralizes a people so quickly, as through 
chicanery, technicality or bribery, to suffer the guilty to es- 
cape and justice to be defrauded of her proper reward. 

Grov. Vroom was a gentleman — by nature and by feeling, 
as much as by breeding and education ! He could not smile 
and smile au'l then act as a villain ; but his smile and his 
affability meant something It came from his feelings and 
his heart 1 You might meet him in the street ten times in 
a day ; you would always receive from him the recognition 
of a gentleman ! liis port and Ix'aring indicated his cul- 
ture, and higli breeding, and a child 'vould receive the same 
respectful attention that he accorded to the highest in sta- 
tion and influence. Indeed children who knew him generally 
were attached to him, and among them he counted some of 
his dearest friends ! It was a sight calculated to do your 
heart g.xxl to see how he cherished tle-ni, and how contid- 
iuglv they trusteil ami loved him I When li" was witli 



26 MEMORIAL SEKMON. 

them, he almost seemed to feel that he was himself again a 
child ; but he was yet, even when he had come down to 
their feelings and condition, a digniiied gentleman ! Among 
strano-ers ho was a marked man ! Every one who met him 
seemed to concede at once that he could not be an ordinary 
individual, and anxiously enquired who he was ! 1 have 
had occasion to see this in a great variety of instances both 
at home and in Euroj)e. I have seen him among the high- 
est bred society in both, and remarked how he always bore 
himself with proper dignity and urbanity, and received the 
deferential respect of all who knew or approached him. He 
seemed to command it ; and they felt that nothing was 
more projier than to concede it 

We must next consider him as a lawyer ; and here it is 
})ertinent to remark in the beginning, that his mind was of 
a superior cast and character — clear, logical and eminently 
perceptive ! He mastered a subject very soon, and wIkmi 
he came to discuss it, it was evident that he had seen it in 
all its important bearings. He could not therefore as an ad- 
vocate be surprised or thrown off his guard, l)y arguments 
or views that were new to him, and that h;i was not pre- 
pared to meet ; and when he had discussed a case, there 
was never much to add, that could be said to be new or im- 
portant to a proj)er comprehension of it. He had read law 
extensively and mastered the great ]>rineiples on which it 
was founded. 

Moreover the view which he had taken of it was, not only 
thorough but honest. He lov(^d truth too nuieh. and he 
alwavs esteemed justice too liii:lilv to allow hi.s mind to be 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 27 

nmluly swayed Ly syiupatliy, or fatally influenced by any 
iiupro})Gr cjusideratiDns. Few men at the Bar have exhibi- 
ted uniformly, more solid judgment, more thorough integ- 
rity, and more firm adherence to ))rinci[)le, than he did. 
He was therefore a saf- Oounselior, and seldom left his client 
any reason to feel that all had not been done for him that 
could properly liave been done. 

As a s})eaker he was clear, logical, persuasive and earnest. 
There have been men who were more eloquent, and who had 
the power of moving and transporting their hearers more 
than he ever did ; but there have been only a few, who uni- 
fonnly spoke more to the point, and held those to whom 
they were speaking more closely to the subject of argument, 
and more thoroughly informed their undersranding. His 
voice had in it a soft sounding melody, his words were well 
chosen, and expressed clearly his meaning without any re- 
dundancy, and when Ills heart was engaged he became pa- 
thetic and moving. In fact he was uniformly heard with 
respect and attention, and often with the deepest interest 
and the most thorough conviction. He was a strong man 
in Court, and made for himself a reputation, as a barrister, 
which was both honorable and admirable In after years 
he will be spokf'ii of as one of the great lawyers, who have 
adorned the juris[)rudence ot our State, and left upon it 
the iuipress of their mind and character for the benefit and 
instruction of future times. 

During the whoh' tim • he held the olHce of Governor of 
the State, he was also Ohaneellor, and dn-idcd a variety of 
important cases. Somr of them wliidi had a oiincctioii 



28 MEMORIAL iSEKiiON. 

with Ecflesiastical atfairs, w.n-e unusual, if not entirely 
new. His decisions have stood the test of time, and are 
quoted as law in all the Courts. It has been remarked by 
those whose opinions ought to be authority, that it has 
been found necessary to review fewer of his decisions, than 
those of almost any one of the Chancellors of the State, 
Those of Williamson and Green alone, I believe, are re- 
^•arded as being of e.^ual authority, on account of their 
learning and accuracy. 

His messages and proclamations, as Governor, were al- 
ways distinguished by one thing which is not common, but 
which certainly is of great imp «-taace in a Christian om- 
munity and from a Christian Statesman. He uniforndy 
acknowledged the existence of the Christian reUgion, the di- 
vine missimi of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the b.mefit of 
public worship and the importance of the means of grace. 
1 know of no one of our Governors who has made th -se 
recognitions so uniformly and distinctly, except Governor 
Olden. The most of the proclamations issued are merely 
the language of Deism, and could as well have been writ- 
ten by one of the Roman Emperors, or one of the Heathen 
Philosophers. This is not what a Christian p'-ople ought 
to receive, or what th-y have a right t.. expect, from one to 
whom they have entrusted executive functions. Gov 
Vroom was too much of a Christian Statesman to succumb 
to the demands of that morbid infidelity which exists but too 
fatally in the feelings of many of our public men. He 
respected himself, and the Christian sentiment of the best 
of our citizens too much, to periK'tuate any such tolly. 



MEMORIAL SEHMON. 29 

Guv. Vrooin must be considered as uiie of the ablest meu 
of the New Jersey Bar. He argued during his practice, 
alni'^st all the great cases which were in litigation. He ar- 
gued them well. He did not always carry his case success- 
t'ully through and obtain a judgment in his favor ; but his 
client never found any reason to say, that he had neglected 
the interest committed to his care, or that he had not done 
all that learning and energy could have done to secure suc- 
cess. He no doubt had a proper sense of the value of his 
services, but lie never op[)ressed his client by excessive 
charges. I think it is true, that none of the eminent law- 
yers of our State have labored so earnestly and so success- 
fully tor such a moderate compHnsation. He felt his re- 
sponsibility and never refused his counsel and assistance to 
a poor man, because he knew that he was not able properly to 
remunerate his service. He was never made rich by his 
profession and practice, and he did a vast amount of work 
for which he received but little if any conii)ensation. He 
was a benefactor often, instead of being himself benefited 
by his etforts ; and the l)lessii)g of tliose whom lie had eonn- 
si^ilcd and defended came aljundaiitly up(jii him. 

Gov. Yroom was also a statesman and politician. He did 
not enter early into tiie arena of public life. The views 
which he had probab'y imbibed were in obeyance when he 
came upon the stage ; and the jjolitical organization, if 
there ever was one with which In- would naturally have affil- 
iated; had become dciiiorali/cd and almost extinct. But 
the time came which opened hcforc him a fir-ld of acti(»n, 
and he entered upon it witii ardor. Gen. Jacks )n ofiered 



30 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

tlie mombers of tlie old Fi'deral [)aitv, an (Opportunity of 
uniting with his personal Iricuds in advancing him to office, 
and they abnost nnaninjously en\l)raced it. With this 
]jarty, in all its varying fortunes and successes, he continued 
to associate unto the last. He was never a violent pt)litieian, 
but he was an earnest one, just as in everything else he was 
earnest, when he was convinced of the right and ]n-oposed 
to himself proper ends and action. 

His statesmanship was intelligently liberal and enlarged ; 
and I believ*^, uniformly sought the public good more than 
jiarty ends or personal ambition If he had been more sub- 
servient, he might have been more successful ; ])ut the truth 
is, he was not intended for a successful politician. His 
knees were not sui)ple enough, his ch.racter not sufficiently 
selfish, and he could not do what his conscience and con- 
viction of right, taught him that he ought not to 
do. There were times when a little yielding, a little per- 
sonal subserviency to men in power, an implied ]>romise to 
be what he knew they wanted him to be, would have carried 
him into high places. But he never could ))e induced to 
sell himself for place or promotion. The offices which he 
filled sought him, instead of his seeking the office. His 
friends made him what he was, but he never solicited ad- 
vancement from any one. 

But the crowning beauty and excellency of Gov. Vroom's 
character, remains yet to be ])resented — he was a Christian 
lawyer and statesman Not a Christian man only, but a 
man who carried his Christianitv into t'very position which 
h<' ever fillrd. He was not ashamed of CMirist, or of the 



MEMORIAL SERMON. .31 

faith wliicli he had ])rofessed in Christ, as l)eing •' the only 
name given under heaven hy which a sinner can be saved." 
His Christianity was deeply seated in his heart, and went 
with him wherever he went, and influenced liim in his daily 
conduct and lite. It had loving power in his soul and made 
him a devotional man He worsiii[)ed God in his house ; 
and I remember, when he had been absent at Trenton, as 
Governor of the State, how ha]ti)y he seemed to be, when 
having returned home and Saturday evening, he joined 
in our weekly prayer meeting. He would seem to pour his 
whole heart out in his prayers and the parhos of his utter- 
ance often hathed the whole assembly in tears. His sup- 
plications were so earnest, so humble, so childlike, so plead- 
ing, as if he felt, "I will notlet Thee go, except thoubless me," 

Before I came to live in Somerville, I was told by a plain 
man from the country, wiih great wonderment and admira- 
tion, how he came to his house in the village here quite 
early in the morning, and was kept waiting half an hour in 
the office, while he was reading the scriptures and praying 
with his family The man seemed unable to understand 
how it was possible, that the Governor of the State of New 
Jersey, could do such a thing. He thought that men in 
high places were always worldly and ungodly men : and 
then said the man, " he ])rayed so ; he made me feel as I 
had never felt before. Oh ! I never expected to hear sucii 
a thing." 

While I was with him in Px-rlin, he sought from Baron 
Humbolt till' privilege of an introiliiction i'nv mc The 
Baron very freely accorded the ri'(|U('st, and appnintcd tiie 



32 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

day ana houv for it to take place. W. attended, and were . 
nsbcvd into Ins stndv. When the introdaction had taken 
place, and we were seated, he commenced a very rapid and 
animated conversation ; asking various questions, and gain- 
in^ the information he supposed we could give. This con- 
tinued several minutes, when he seemed to recollect, that 
had scarcelv entered into the conversation at all : and t. 
afford him an opportunity of a personal talk with me, he 
called Mr. Vroom's attention to a picture hanging some dis- 
tance from us. When he had risen and gone to view it, 
the Baron turned to me, and in an undertone said, " we 
admire your friend here very much ; he has obtained more 
influence -vith the Grovernment here, than almost any other 
Ambassador ever sent to us from the United States. He is 
a very judicious and excellent man ; but isn't he a littk- 
queer ? I asked how ? Why there are so many things he 
won't do, and he don't attend any of our dances and never 
.oes to the theatre." I said Mr. Vroom is a practical Chris- 
tian ; a pious, godly man. He looked at me with an ck-- 
pression of countenance, in which there was a good deal ot 
surprise and a lurking smile of mirth, and said, "Yes that is 
it, • Yes tliat must be it ;" and this settled the question m 
the Baron's mind. Mr. Vroom was a Pietist) one ot those 
<.ood people, of whom the Baron had heard, and some ot 
whom he had probably seen ; yood people, but they know 
nothing about philosophy. Humboldt himself had no id.a 
of religion ; he did not .ven believe in a personal divunty. 
His God was the spirit of nature. No wonder he thought 
Gov. Vroc.iii a little ([uccr. 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 33 

TIk' Christianity of Mr. Vrooiii was built upon, and 
grew out of tlie doctrines of our Cliurch. He understood 
the faith of his own Church fully. lie liad studied it, and 
experienced its power in his heai't. He was a Calvinist 
from knowledii'e, conviction and experience. He was noth- 
ino- else, and he tolerated nothinir else. He traced this 
form of faith, back through Calvin and Augustine, to St. 
Paul. He knew that as often as this taith had been lost to 
the Church ; the po»ver of Christian life had departed with 
it ; and that it always ca.me back in seasons of special di- 
vine influence. FHs piety was therefore the scri[)tural 
piety — "Christ in us the hope of glory." It was not in 
name, in rites, in sacraments, in forms, but in the poiuer of 
a new life ; and because this litV; was in him, he daily lived 
'A'ith God. The Bible was his constant companion, and 
prayer like bis daily food. I remember his showing me once, 
a small Testament, much worn and full (4' marked texts ; 
and his remarking liow he had cari'ied il with him for many 
years wherev(;i- he went : and then he i)ointed out some of 
the texts with the initials of the. jjreacher and tlic date, 
and remarked how much he value<l it, because it enabled 
liim to recall so many excellent sermoms, and Sabbaths which 
had been very i?npressive and precious to him A year or 
two afterwards, in the same place, he told me that he had 
lost this little b lok. and how lie grieved over the misl'oi-- 
tune. It was a memorial ot his religious thought and ex- 
])eiience, extending through many im])ortant years of his 
life, and as such aim )st invaluabl(\ The eiiciimstanee 
shows how much li" li id rell 'eh d m the 'j-reat subicct of i-e- 



34 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

ligion ami how procious the enjoyments of it were to him, 
and how much he was interested in preserving- this little me- 
morial of his past experience and pleasure. 

At this period of his life, he was frequently called to 
speak at religious anniversaries. Such as the Bible Society, 
the Tract Society and the American Colonization Society. 
When the first company of Missionaries from our Cliuich, 
went out to Borneo, he delivered a very beautiful and inter- 
estinp; farewell address to them, in the Old Middle Church 
in New York City. He was then, and continued to be for 
many years afterwards, one of the Presidential Committee 
of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
sions ; and he was a Vice President of the American Bible 
and Colonization Societies at the time of his death. 

As a Christian man, he was a man of large views and 
generous impulses, and he cherished a zealous and earnest 
spirit. He gave to religious objects abundantly, and he re- 
joiced always to know that practical Cliristianity was any- 
where advancing. Nothing could have ever mady him a 
bigot, or confined his sympathies or charities to sectional- 
ism. It was the kingdom of Christ that he tried to build 
up, and not any party, or the views of any party in it, 
though he loved most his own church. 

His nervous depressions had nothing to do with his piety. 
Their origin was a physical one ; and the proper treatment 
was medicinal. He was subject to them as long as I knew 
him ; and I remember more than one severe and acute at- 
tack. His last sickness connnenced in one of those depres- 
sions. I had never before seen him so despondent and so 



ME MO REAL SERMON. 35 

gloomy. But after a K-w days it passed away. Tlie cloud 
was lifted, and the light shone out through it, and then his 
face became as luminous as an angel's, and he went to 
Heaven Elijah like on " the chariots of salvation." His 
oidy anxiety was soon to go, and his prayer, '•' now letest 
thou thy servant dei)art in peace, f )r mine eyes have seen 
thy salvation." It was at home, at home that he longed 
most to he, and his last words were, " I am going home this 
morning." A great and a good man is lost to this Church 
and to the world ; but his memory will long be fondly cher- 
ish(^d In- many. I hope to make it on ^ of the treasured 
gems of this Christian household which he loved so much, 
and in the communion of which h(^ lived so long and died. 
I count it one of my chiefest honors that I obtained his con- 
Kdence and his friendship, and retainad them to the last ; 
and th,d I am permitted U> twine this cluiplct of pale,sad au- 
tumn Mowers and lay it on his grave. It is but little, when 
1 consider what he was to me, and what I owe him, for his 
council and adviee on many deeply interesting and trying 
occasions. I have had many friends, and owe them many 
things, bi'.t I have found no other friend altogether like him. 
His death closes up a host ol' pleasant nieiii irii's, and seems 
to leave me almost alone But 1 am -lad that he lived so 
nobly, and that he died s.j sweetly. Tli ■ thought of it is like 
the incense of a rich perfume, and the memory of it will 
be cherished as encouragement and strength, with which to 
be armed wh -n f »r me the great conflict comes. It is not — 
"No, n')t death to die in such icpose and eonlideiiee." Re- 
membei-. says one. that somr of ihe brightest drnps in the. 



36 MEMORIAL 8EI1M0X. 

chalice of lift? niii}' still rciiiain for us in old age. The last 
diang'ht which a kind Providence gives us to drink, though 
near the bottom of the cup, may have -at that very h )ttom, 
instead of dregs, most costly pearls," and so it was in this 
case. He probably never liad such adoring views of Christ 
and of Heaven, as on his death bed when his face shone as 
if the light of glory was already bi a:i)iug upon it. 

The puplic services which Gov. Vroom rendered were 
numerous, and some of them very ini])ortant. At an eaily 
age, while yet a resident at Flemington, he was appointed 
Deputy Attorney General of the State of New Jeisey. 
This appointment was um^^uestionably an act of friendship), 
but It was well and worthily bestowed. It had no [)olitical 
significance. His father was a Fe leralist and supported 
Washington and Hamilton in the ])eeuliar jjolicy which ihey 
adopted and endeavored to enforce, after th > Federal Con- 
stitution had been fornit'd and ac -epted by the States. It is 
probable that the son sympathized with the same views, but 
there is nothing t > sht)w what his sentiments on the ])oliti- 
cal questions of the day really were. In the y ar 1824, 
however, he assumed a definite position and a Ivocated the 
election of Andr(>w Jackson, for President. Jiefore this time 
the Federal party had, in efiect, been disbanded and ceased 
to exist. John Quincy Adams went over and joined the 
party of Mr. Jefferson, and was supi)orted for the Pre i- 
dency by them. The old Federalists felt indignant at his 
desertion of his father's friends, and as a matter itf cour.se, 
united with those who were opposovl to him. In this course 
of action Mr. Ynom was followed and supp<nted i>y a'most 



MEMORIAL SEKMOX. 37 

all the prominent Federalists in Somerset County. He was 
^soon call-d into public life, by being elected a member of 
the Assembly in I82G and 1827, and again in 1829. Li 
that year his party being largely in the ascendant, and 
the election of Chief Magistrate belonging to the Leo;h\a- 
tmo in Jo i lit meet Inr/, he was diosen Governor and Chan- 
cellor of the State, in the place of Isaac H. Williamson, 
whoha.l been an incumbent of that ofRca for many previous 
y.nirs. I le was re-elected in 1830 and 1831 . In 1832 Sam- 
uel L. Southard superceded him : but he having secured 
his election as a Senator of the United Stites, the 
(Tovernor's office devolved upon Mr. Seeley In 1835 Mr. 
Vroom was again a])pointed Governor, and re-elected in 1834 
and 1835. In 183G he declined the appointment on ac- 
count ..f impaired health. He was confined to his house 
all that winter by his constitutional disease. During this 
year he went l)y appointment of the Presi.lent, Martin Van 
Buren, with Xiclu.las Vans Murray of Maryland, and 
Thomas Mann Randolph of Virginia, to adjust the claims 
ol" tlu" Choctaw Indians, in the State of Mississippi. Kc- 
turniiig home dui iiig tli;- su;im;(; •, tin' Connnission met again 
i:' the next antumn, and linally adjuurm'd lo the city of 
Washington, where they mad^ nj, an,[ .snl)mincd iIkmi- re- 
port, and it was adopted j)y C(mgress. In the Autumn .d" 
1839 he was elected to Congress This -avc rise lo ///r 
Broad Seal Controvcrsij Gov. Pciinin-ton gave tlicrcrtii- 
cate of (dection to the m<'mb,"rs on llic ojipusii inn li(d<ct; 
but th'' returns ui'on \vlii(di h" based his action, w.a-c short 
by omittin-' the votes of the tnu-nsiiips nf Millviljr. In Cnm- 



38 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

berland County, and South Amboy, in Middlesex County. 
This fact was certified to by the Secretary of State ; and 
armed with his certificate. Gov. Vrooni and his associates 
went to Washington, took their seats in the House of Rep- 
resentatives, and maintained their position. It was said at 
the time, tluit his argament before th ■ Committee of Inves- 
tio-ation api)ointed by tho House was one ot the ablest and 
most conclusive arguments which he ever made. He served 
out his term ; but in 1841 was swept under by the tide 
raised by " Log Cabins." 

He had in the mean time taken u]) his i)ermauent resi- 
dence in Trenton. In 1844 he was elected by his friends in 
Somerset, as one of their delegates to the Constitutional 
Convention. He received the appointment of Chairman of 
the Committee on the Legislative department, and repoi t.ul 
the article, defining the powers of the Legislature, as it was 
adopted, and remains in the Constitution of the State at 
the present time. 

In 1852 he was chosen one of the Elect.u's for President 
and Vice President, and gave his vote for FrankUn Pierce. 
In 1853 Gov. Fort nominated him for the office of Chief 
Justice of the Supreme Court ; but he at once, on the day 
on which it was received, declined the api>ointi>ient. In 
mid-summer of the same year, he received from the Piesi- 
dent the nomination as United States Miuister to Prussui. 
He was tendered a public dinner by his friends, as an ex- 
pression of their sentiments for the honor done him, and 
their appreciation of his character. He sailed with his wiiole 
family soon after for Europe, and resided four years in Berlin. 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 39 

In 1857 after Mr. Buchanan had been elected President, 
he requested to be relieved from his position and trust, and 
returned to Trenton, to rebume his place at the Bar once 
more. While in Prussia he negotiated treaties of Com- 
merce and Amity with Baden, and some of the other minor 
German Principalities, which settled, specifically the status 
of persons who had emigrated, and after becoming citizens 
of the United States, had returned to their native land. 
His residence -abroad afforded him a source of pleasure in 
reflection during the remainder of his life. It had greatly 
enlarged his knowledge, and perfected his views of many 
things, only understood by seeing and knowing them as they 
are. 

In 1861, he was ap})ointed a member of the Peace Con- 
vention, which assembled in Washington, before hostilities 
had actually commenced. He was one of the members of 
the Committee on the State of the Union, of which Mr. 
Guthrie of Kentucky, was chairman. He labored earnestly 
to prevent the impending conflict ; and I know he never 
regret ed his efforts in that direction, but only that they 
had not succeeded. 

At the close of the war, he was a})pointed, with Gov. 
Olden, a Commissioner of the Sinking Fund. The public 
does not know yet, and possibly may never fully know, what 
they owe to these two pure, high minded and honorable 
men, for tlie integrity and wisdom with \vhit;li they have 
managed this important trust. If their views and priiici- 
l)les are carried out, in about ten years the war debt of the 
State will ]iave been liunidat.-d. F.nt it is feand. that sel- 



40 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

fish men in the future Legislatures, may interfere and try 
to grasp "what has heen with so much care accumulated. 
Attempts have already heen made, hut so far f irtunately 
without success. 

Gov. Vroom was appointed one of the Electors agaiu in 
1868, and gave his vote for Horatio Seymour, of tlie State 
of New York, for President. He succeeded to the office of 
Reporter to the Supreme Court, on the death of his sou 
John, and published six volumes of reports. 

In 1837 he was honored with a degree, creating him a 
Doctor of Laws, from Columbia College, and again from 
Princeton in 1857. He was a Trustee of Rutgers' College 
from 1828, and at the time of his death the oldest member 
of the Board. Thus you perceive, that like the eminent 
men referred to in our text, after a busy and honorable life, 
he died in a good old age, full of years and full of honors 

His life was indeed an active one ; and wIru we look over 
the catalogue of the public trusts conferred on him. it 
may be said that he was as frequently honored as any mm 
from our little State has ever been ; and in every one of 
his offices he was useful, successful and honorable. He has 
transmitted a perfectly unspotted reputation to his children. 
No one e\er dared to insinuate that he was not always. ;ind 
in all circumstances and times, an honorable and puie 
minded man. They might dissent from his views, and 
other men as good as he, differed with him in ])olitics, but 
they did not dare to impeach the integrity of his character ; 
and this is where the high honor which we claim for him, is 
made most evident and conspicuous. Contrast liiiu with 



MEMORIA.L SERMON. 41 

other men in |)ublie life ; how fair and bright his fame is. 
How much we need such men ! How much society and the 
public welfare have suffered in his death ! Honesty and 
honor seem almost to have become rare and unfrequent vir- 
tues among' men in high ])laces. There are a precious few 
who are not defiled, or at least accused of defilement. 

Gov. Vroom, notwithstanding his constitutional tendency 
to a certain form of disease, enjoyed a large portion of good 
health, and lived beyond four score years, and he preserved 
his mental vigor, with his memory and perceptive faculties, 
until the very last. You could not perceive that in mind 
he was an old man. He felt his age and spoke of it often, 
but when he came to converse or to act, he was young after 
all. Only a short while previous to his decease, he went 
into the Court of Errors, and astonished the Judges and 
the bar by the vigor of his argument, and the profundity 
and learning with which he illustrated and enforced it. He 
was himself ao-ain, and held his auditors in profound atten- 
tion for two hours. 

His old age was perfectly beautiful. He could be found 
in his office every day. He had always something to do. 
He was in possession of a competence. He was happy in 
his domestic relations. He was content(:d with the honors 
and distinctions to which he had attained. He had early 
attended to " the oiie thing needful." He was not afraid 
to die, and chcrislicd a good h(i[)e of eternal lifi' tlirough 
Jesus Christ the Saviour of men: and he waited calmly and 
hopefully, " the (hiysof his iii>|) linted time, until his change 
should coiuc " He had lived long, lived well, and departed 



42 MEMORIAL SERMON. 

hoping to live eternally in Heaven. In thinking of it, I 
have realized, what has been so beautifully said by another : 
" Death is the justification of all the ways of the Christian, 
the last end of all his sacrifices— that touch of the great 
master which completes the picture." "At eventide— says 
the holy word, there shall be light." 

He ought to be held up as an eminent and important ex- 
ample to men in the legal profession. His life proves that 
it is possible that there should be a Christian lawyer, and 
also that he should be a successful one. Gov. Vroom, and 
others like him and coeval with him, have indeed proved 
this important fact most unequivocally. It ought to be 
considerad by young men, when entering upon their life 
course. Integrity and uprightness are the safest and most 
successful. Honorable dealings stand a man in good stead 
always ; and the true path to happiness and success, is in 
knowing the truth, doing the truth, and living the truth. 
A correspondence fixed with Heaven is always a sure and 
noble anchor. 

There are ways of becoming rich very fast ; and m^n 
have managed to mount up rapidly into places of profit and 
trust ; but there are those who have fallen down and be- 
come poor as rapidly as they mounted upwards. Ill-gotten 
gain is an uncertain possession ; and even when a man 
holds it until he dies, and transmits it to his children, he 
cannot ahvays transmit a blessing with it. In not a few 
instances, it proves itself to have been only a curse. Greedy 
grasping, and avaricious over-reaching are never sate. 
Providence never smiles on such u course, and tlie posses- 



MEMORIAL SERMON. 43 

sion of" dishonest gain is never a real bli'ssing. it docs UDt 
bring; men to honor but to dis<2;race. 

But the crowning glory of G<.'v. Vroom'slife was its God- 
liness. He was a true Christian, he was a Christian always : 
and was never anywhere anything that a Christian inav not 
be. His Conversion was a di3cided spiritual change. It re- 
alized the inspired definition of jn'actical Christianity — 
•'Christ in you the hope of glory." It made liiin a spirit- 
ually minded and a devotional man. His piety was a great 
power, living in him and worldling in him daily. It tauglit 
him every day ta realize, that " we live and move and have 
our being in God ; and that he is never far from us." He 
carried his conscientiousness with him, into all the active af- 
fairs of life for half a century and more. He could be nrith- 
ing else but-decided in hisr-digious views and opinions. Hi- 
knew in whom he had belie /ed. He had beiMi taught what 
iho fruits oi' faith are, and 'Ught to be — th;it they arc not 
in name, but in 2^'>wer. No woin'i'i' he died so cahiiiy and 
so sweetly, with the Avord " home" lingering on his li])s — 
''I am going home" — "I wnnl every one to l<ii.i\v liow 
precious Jesus has been to me." The salvation which -Icsus 
has wrought out for his pe()])le, was the hope of his salva- 
tion ; and the home to which he k-uew that he was cer- 
tainly goings was "the mansions in the FatJier's house," 
which Jesus went before us to pi-e])are, "that where he is, 
his children may all likewise be" — be tlieic with hini. 
Home and rest, in God and in love ; dec|i rejiosc in that 
still country, v.diere tlic mystery of life is solved, and the 
most feverish hettrt lays down its Inad at last. 



44 MEMORIAL SEtlMOX. 

•'His soul, enlarged from its vile bonds has gone 
To that KEFri.GEXT world where it shall swim 
In liquid light and float on seas of bliss." 

No wonder some men could not understand liiuj— thought 
him singular, and unnecessarily precise in his life and con- 
duct. It is a straii ivay in which we are walking onward to 
•God. It will not allow of everything ; nor can we be every- 
thing, and carry everything with us. Sir Walter Raleigh 
has well said, 

>• Or death and judgment, Heaven and Hell 
Wiio oft doth think, must needs die well," 

and thl^,— is it not the great end of living— living to die 
well ? Is any life a successful one, if it does not end well ? 
There is advancement not only but there is also joy in a 
translation to a higher life. 

'^Thou takest not away O. death, 
Thou strikest— absence perisheth— 

Indifference is no more 1 
The future brightens on the sight ; 
For on the past has fallen a light. 

That tempts us to adore." 

Such a beautiful ending of life, how attractive it is ! Every 
duty well done, every important interest well secured and 
every responsibility fairly and fully met ; honored by men , 
approved by Heaven and waiting only for the summons to 
come up higher and enter upon the nobler life ! It seems 
to complete and satisfy the demands of reason, conscience 
and faith, and must be approved of God.* 



xMKMORIAL SERMON. 45 

It is what \v(^ would (Usire tor ourselves, and what we 
pray may be the end of the pilgrimage of every one who 
seeks to " serve God in sincerity and in truth," Indeed? 
it is what is ])roniised in the Holy Scriptures, and what God's 
peo])le often attain to. " .Now letest thou thy servant de- 
part in i)eace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." 
When it c(Mnes we say, 

■'He rests, as sets the morning star, wliicli goes 
Not down behind the darkened west, nor hides 
Obscured amid the tempests of the sky — 
But swells awa}' into the hght of Heaven." 



TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

THE DEATH. 

[Extract from the State Gazette, of Nov. 19, 1873.] 

A long and useful life, an honorable and unblemished ca- 
reer, were closed yesterday by the death of Gov. Peter D, 
Vroom. The oldest counsellor at the Bar of New Jersey, 
having practiced over fifty years, and widely known, not 
only l<y his professional connections, but by his social inter- 
course, the intelligence of his death will awaken personal 
regrets in every part of the State. Gov. Vroom had been 
confined to his bed about a fortnight. Previous to that 
time he had shown an activity of mind and an industry re- 
markable for his years. He suffered, we believe, from no ail- 
ment save that which is beyond human skill, — old age and 
the exhaustion which it brings. Having lived a life beau- 
tiful in its purity and its usefulness, exemplary in its social 
virtues and its ['rofessional exccllinu-e, having been faithful 
to every public trust and an nniaiiicnt, to the profession of 
wliieli he w;is a. member, lie has died a death, surroiiiided 
by his family, wliich, unaccompanied by |)aiii, was beauli- 
ti:l in its serenity and peace. 

The best eulogy that can be given of the deceased is a 
sim]»le aecounr of his private lilr anil jmlilie services. 



48 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

THE OBSEQUIES. 

Yesterday morning was like a Sabbath. The air was 
keen and cold, and silence reigned. The flag on tho. State 
House floated at half-mast, and the business marts were 
closed. The leading men of the State were seen wending 
their way to the family mansion of the Vrooms, to take 
part in the last ceremony of parting with the remains of 
one whose name had become a household word, and whose 
death was a fitting close to a well spent and studious life. 

In a chamber of the mansion lay all that was mortal of 
ex-Gov. Vroom. He looked naturaL The body was neatly 
attired, and the countenance was calm, and bore the appear- 
ance of a peaceful sleep. The inscription on the coffin-lid 

was : 

PETER D. VROOM, 

Dec. 12th, 1791. 

DiED; Nov. 18th, 1873. 

Tlie coffin was covered with black cloth, and on the lid 
were wreaths of flowers. In the family home; with the 
crowd of guests there was stillness befitting such an occa- 
sion as the passing away of the master. The Bench and 
Bar of the State, amongst tiie guests, were fully r.'presented. 
Eighty-two years in a young nation — what a life ! Bi>rn 
in the intant days of the new government, familiar from 
boyhood with facts that have become hi ;tory, in the latter 
years of his life Pet 'r D. V^room was an authoritv of pre - 
ivdent, which, aftt-r all, is thi' wisd »m of the world und ihe 



TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 49 

foundation of what we know. And as we take the last 
farewell of one we have known so long, in the silence, fancy 
connected the past with the present, and we said with Der- 
shanoif, the Russian poet, for the translation of wliich we 
are indebted to Sir John Bowring : 

" Thou tlie bogmning with the end hast bound 
And beautifull}- mingled life with deuth." 

Filing in came the principal citizens of tiie State ; men 
famous in law, learning and literature ; men who have 
stood in battle array when tiie destinies of the nation were 
at stake ; men who have in i)rivate walks of life adorned 
the character of citizens, and who, iti the last scene paid 
homage to the worth of the departed. 

And while the chambers tvere tilled with the best citizens, 
in the hush and calm of the household, where Death reiirned 
there arose the voice of i)raye.r from tiic pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Cliurch, the Rev. Dr. Hall. 

His ])iayer was thi' voice of praise and resignation ; 
])raise that tlu; departed had lived so good and valuabU' a 
life as an exam[ile to his fellow men, and also tiiat he had 
ii()l)ly and honorably maintained the duty of a Christian. 
God \v;is thanked for tlic eirciiinstaru-cs in which thcv met 
that day. They had no right to bring complainings into 
the presence of the good Father, but rather to be thankful 
that the departed had lived so long to liear testimony to the 
tiuth. Wliit liad not (lod done for him in his long WW- y 
It ha I «'nabl((l him for so many years tosliuw forth his faith 
in Christ and to he a pilhir in liis Church, and t,, l)c an c.x- 



50 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

ample to all around him. And for that they would come 
with praise instead of lamentations, and ask that they 
might be blessed and profited by the example of the life 
which had so honorably closed. He asked that the life and 
death might be sanctified to all. that they might be enabled 
to lead good lives, and at the close of life triumph in death 
through Jesus Christ. The praise was closed with the 
Lord's prayer and the Benediction. 

The coffin was then taken to the hearse by the carriers, 
who were Titus H. Stout, James Hammell, Joshua S, Day, 
Charles Biles, J. J. Johnson, Benjamin S. Disbrow. 

The cortege proceeding immediately to the depot, taking 
the 11 o'ck)ck train to Somerville, Gov. Parker, the Secre- 
tary of' State, and other State officials, the members of tht; 
Supreme Court and Court of Errors and Appeals, the Mer- 
cer county courts, delegations from the State bar and bar 
of Mercer county, including the Chancellor and Attorney 
General, and the Mayor and officers of the city of Trenton 
accompanied the remains. All the State offices were closed, 
the flags on the Ca[)itol and City Hall were at half-mast, 
the Court of Errors had adjourned until Monday, the 
Mercer county courts for oup week, and Maycn- Briest of 
Treuton luul issued proelamatinn desiring that stores along 
the route of tlie ]>roeessiun shouhl bi^ closed from i) until II. 
A. M. Such respect ha- not bcLni shown t(j any one in New 
Jersey since the death of Hon. Wni. L. Dayton. Minister 
to France. 

The i)all bearers were ex-Chancellor Green, ex-Gov. Ol- 
den, Chiei" Jns:ice Beaslev, (tov Parker. A tfoi nev-General 



TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 51 

Gilchrist, Abraham Browning, Cortlan.lt Parker, and 
Judge Sciidder. 

The remains, on arriving at Sonierville, were taken to the 
First Reformed Dutch Church, and a sermon suitable to the 
occasion preached by Rev. Dr. Messier, the pastor. In the 
pulpit besides the ])reacher, were Dr. Hall, of Trenton, and 
and Rev. John P. Knox, of Newton, Long Island. 

The foUowing gentlemen acted as pall bearers in Soraer- 
ville, viz : R. H. Veghte, Caleb Miller, N. V. Steele, H. H. 
Garretson, P. A. Dumont, A J. Quick. 

After the services in the Cliurch were completed in the 
presence of a large concourse of peo[)le, the mortal remains 
were conveyed to the Dumont Cemetery on th(! south side 
of the Raritan river, where his former wife, his son John, 
and five of his little chihlren rest. 

It was a most impressive scene throughout, manifesting 
the firm attachments of his oldest and best friemls, for one 
whom they had long known and honored. He had always 
shown a deej) interest in the welfare of Somerville, and 
many tears demonstrated how sincerely it was reciprocated. 

PEACK CONVENTION. 

We add here a nairativi; of his services in the Peace Con- 
vention, in the city of Washington, in bSfU. When the 
})ros])ect of civil \var had become threatening, and a conven- 
tion representing the States, was held at Washington, to 
adopt SOUK' suitable Ijasis of adjustment, Mr. \'room was 
among thi- nine genfleincii a|i|Miiiited to repicseiit Ni.'W Jer- 
sev. He was a memb;'r of tlie committee eom]»nsrd of one 



52 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

from each State, to whom was referred the resolutions from 
New Jersey and the other States represented. In a letter 
written by one of the Commissioners, the lahors of Gov. 
Vrooni are spoken of in high terms. He was punctual and 
faithful, and in all consultations, says the writer, •' We 
found him ever, and eminently calm, sagacious, and " his 
colleagues naturally and justly regarded him as the Nestt)r 
of the delegation, both as regards age and wisdom. In an 
address to the people of New Jersey, published in 1862, 
Gov. Vroom explained the causes which led to the failure 
of all propositions for peace, and disclosed the grounds U[)ou 
wliich he and those win) agreetl with him thought it theii 
duty to oppose the measures of the Lincoln administration. 
He emphatically disclaimed any concurrence in the doctrine 
of secession, declaring it to be a political heresy, but he in- 
sisted that the only legitimate object of the war was, as 
Congress had resolved, to suppress rebellion, establish the 
authority of the Constitution and restore the Union, and 
that this being accomplished, it should cease. And what 
was far m <re im[)ortant even than this, the Constitution 
was disiegarded and treated as if no longiM- binding, as an 
illustration of which the suspension by the President of tin; 
great wiit of habeas corpus was referred to. At a latter 
iteriod Gov. Vroom rendered imi)ortant service bv i>:oini>' to 
Somerset county wlien, during the war, excitement ran high 
and resistance to the draft was threatened, and delivering an 
addi'ess in whieh lie eounsel;Hl peaceful submission to the 
laws. This speech was always regarded as distinguished 
for toree and do luence. After referring to the li^iit ot" free 



TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 53 

(liscussiuu, and fi})eaking of tho war as a calamity to be de- 
plored, lie asked—" What then are we to do, in the situa- 
tion in which we tind (Hirselves placed. Let us resolve that 
this country, in its whole length and hieadth is our coun- 
try, and that we will save it if we can. ■•'•" * ■■•'•■ ■'•'" 
We must abide by the laws when duly made ; this has al- 
ways been a principle ot the Dtnnocratic; creed, and I ad- 
dress myself to a law-loving people. We are not called 
upon to play the hypocrite and sing the pi-aises of impolitic 
and bad laws, but we are to abide by them while they are 
laws. We may believe them to l)e unjust and uncondition- 
•d\, but in regard to their constitutionality we are not the 
judges. We are the peojjle u[)on whom they arc to operate, 
and who are to obey them. A judiciary has been pri)vided 
to determine their constitutionality ; and that is our pro- 
tection — it is the constitutional shield thrown around oui' 
rights." The success of (lov. Vroom in calming, with 
these words, an excited people, proved his power as a })ub- 
lic speaker and the confidence and esteem with which he 
was regarded by the people of his native county after years 
of se])aration from them 

Mr. Vroom labored earnestly in sp.uportof Gen. McClel- 
hui in l(S()4. and in JSIJcS was chosen one of the Presidential 
Electors and aide(l in easting the vote of the State for Ho- 
ratio Seymour. In tix- later years of hj.s lite he accepted 
u])on the (b'ath of his eldest situ, who was Suj)reme Court 
re|)oi-ter, that position, and tln^ si.K volumes prepared by 
him attest the Hdelity and th- imliistiw, ehai'aideiistic of 
his eiltil-e life, witll wliieji he peifu-Ml'l the duties of the 



54 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

office in his declining years. Upon the creation of the 
State Sinking Fund, Grov. Vroom was appointed one of the 
Commissioners, and until within a few days before he was 
stricken with the illness which has terminatt-d his useful 
life, he gave his personal attention to the duties of this oihce, 
exhibiting a scrupulous and conscientious regard for all the 
transactions in which the interests of the State and the in- 
vestment of her moneys were concerned. 

In domestic and social life Gov. Vroom enjoyed the love 
and veneration of his immediate connections, and of all 
with whom he had intercourse. He was a member of the 
Dutcli Reformed (.'hurch, a trustee of Rutgers' College, 
Vice President of the American Colonization and Bible 
Societies, and in 1857 the College of New Jersey conferred 
on him the degree of L. L. D. Retaining his faculties in a 
remarkable degree in his age, he did not cease his i)ublic la- 
bors until his enerj^ies o-ave wav beneath the weight 
of accumulated years, and he may be said to have died, as 
he lived, in the service of his native State which he loved 
so well. Full of years and full of honors, Peter D. Vroom 
goes to his resting place, leaving behind liim that which is 
more precious than " storied urn or nniniated bust " — a 
memory wliieh those near to him and the citizens of his 
State must alike cherish and venerate. 



TKIJ3UTES OF RI-.SPECT. 55 

KESOLUTIOXS OF THE A. i; SOCIETY. 

The following preamble unci, lueuio.ial were adopted by 
the Boanl of Managers of the American Bible Society, at 
their meeting j,el,l December 4, 1873. 

Wi.EHK.vs. It has pleased Almighty God to remove from amon. us by 
de.uh t^he Hon. Peter D. Vroom, one of the Vice Presidents of this So- 

a'ciatrfnd" :•;"'! '"'"^ ^"'^' ^"""^^ ^' '-''''''■' ^" "-i'- l--»ted 
r^oiv^n "''''''.''r''^- ^-''"=^' ^>y -terin, upon their nunutes 
lue loiiowing memorial. 

Mr. Vroomwasa warm friend of the Bible Society, and was elected 

Vice President in 1839. and with one exception was the oldest vL Pr i 

dent on our list. He died at his late residence in Trenton, N. J in he 

a?a'na7 f T "' ''^ ''''■ '^^ ''""^ '''' '^^^ ''' ^ --^'^tionary officer 

Son r.rT' ' • " '"'^ '''' "' ''''"'''''''■ H^ ^"^--^^^ -Pon the pro- 

nX sf. "" ''''' ""' """ ^"^^ '' '^^---^ -t ^'-bar of his 

native otate. 

He was elected Goyernor of the State of New Jersey in 1829. and re- 
elected annually with the interval of a single term until the year 18:3« 
when he declined the office. From 1888 to 18-K., he was a member of 
Congress. He declined the office of Chief Justice of the State, and the 
same year went to Berlin as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States 
a the court of Prussia, where he remained until 1857. In all public sta- 
tions Governor \room served his State and the country at large with pre- 
eminent ability and with exemplary purity and elevation of character. 
J^arly in life he gave his heart to Christ, and united himself to the Re- 
forme, Church, which ever honored bi,u as one of its wisest and most ,le- 
voted friends. 

His piety was simple but decided, and tl.rew a rinnn over bis intex 
cour.se with his fellow men which bound all hearts to him. 1„ tlu- fulness 
ot a good old age, lamented an,! beloved by all wbo knew him, havin- 
served his generation, by the will of (Jod. be has rail..., on .sleep •• "-he 
memory of t lie just is blessed." 



^e TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

ACTION OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY BAR. 

At a meeting of the Somerset County Bar, at the recent 
session of tlie Court, the following action was taken in ref- 
erence to the death of Hon. Peter D. Vroom : 

IN MEMORIAM. 

On Saturday, the 3d inst., the death of the Hon. Peter 
D. Vroom was announced by I. N. Dilts,Esq., whereupon 
His Honor, Judge Dah-ymple, remarked : 

That he thought it highly fitting that some notice should 
be taken at this ti.ne and place of the circumstance to which 
attention had been called. Gov. Vroom was a native of 
this county, and although, for a number of years, he had 
resided in Trenton, his affections had always centred upon 
the place of his birth, wher. he had retainid a quasi resi- 
dence-had kept up his church connection, and relations of 
friendship with its citizens. 

He was a great and good n.an. At the bar-in official 
positions in this Stat.-iu the National Councils, and at 
the F.oreign Court where he represented our counlry, hi- 
was not only eminently popular, but ever falfilled the du- 
ties dev.dved upon him in a nmnner unsurpassed by any ot 
his contc-mponui.s. And after having acted well his part 
iu ;U1 tlu^ varied oecunatious of a long and useful life,, he 
,vas-at his own re-iuest-brought to this, his native place 

fur interment. 

Among the evid.M.ees of the eontidence placed in him by 
the people oi this cnnty, it is especially worthy of remark, 



TKlBUTEtS OF KESPECT. 57 

that, althoug-h for more than six years a resident of Tren- 
ton, he was elected a representative of Somerset cuunty in 
the convention which formed our present Constitution- 
When such a man dies, it is meet that his survivors should 
indicate the feelings excited by the event. The Court will 
gladly join with the Bar in [)lacing upon record some memo- 
rial of our appreciation of his worth, and respect for his 
memory. For this purpose the Court now stan Is adjourned. 

The Court having adjourned, on motion of H. M. Uas- 
ton, Esq., the Bar organized themselves by appointing His 
Honor Chairman, and J. D. Bartine, Secr>^tary. 

I. N. Dilts in moving the appointment of a committee to 
draft resolutions, expressive of the sense of the meeting, 
said : 

In C(jnformity with the sense of the Court as just ex- 
pressed, and that of the bar here assembled, I rise to mo\'e 
the appointment of a committee to pre{)are resolutions ex- 
pressing our ap[)reciation of the character and worth of Gov. 
Vroom, and of respect for his memory. It would not be- 
orne me on this occasion to attempt a biogra[)hical notice 
of the illustrious (leceased, or a rehe;irsal of his many and 
valuable p\iblic services. That labor of love has already 
bt'cn in part ])erf)rmed, and doubtless will hereafter be 
com])leted by abler and more fitting hands But the bar of 
this county have been unwilling tnat one, who in past yea s 
shed so much lustre U])on its history slioulil ]»ass away, 
without receiving from it some, however impi'ifect, iintic-e. 

Gov. Vroom was a native of this eiuinty of Somerset — a 
oinity which his, p-ihips, givm tn the State and country 



58 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

more men who have attained to eminence iri the various 
walks of life, than any other like district in tlie State — pos- 
sibly in the country. On the catalo<^ue of her worthy sons, 
stand enrolled the names of the Stocktons, th(; Fielinghuy- 
sens, the Southards, the Daytons, — and amon^^ them the 
name of Peter D. Vroom occujjies a rauk second to none. 

All the pr-seut members of this bar wnre sj far removed 
from Gov. Vroom in age as well as professional standing, 
that we none of us, })erhaps, enjoyed that mtimacy with 
him, to which his associates of more nearly equal position 
were admitted. Still he was by no means an uninteresteil 
observer of the eff jrts of the yoiingjr and rising miimbsrs 
of the legal profession. The vvoids of friendly encourage- 
ment, as well as wise counsel, which fell from his, lips are 
remembered by many. 

Although not obtrusive or dem tustrativi', his artach- 
ments Wvjre strong and enduring. A tVien 1 once adopted 
into that sacred relationship, was adopted for all time. 
And no acquaintaince he was ever ready to manifest those 
sweet charities which constiluti- the cli inn of life. But I 
must forbear, as I do not d'sigu t) estimate his career and 
character, or to |)ronounce his eulogy. 1 sim[)ly add what 
was said of another great light in the legal tirmament, 
" His ])rivate life was as b.auliful, as his public course was 
brilliant." 

I move, sir, the a[)[);)intm('nt of a committee of three to 
prepare resolutions e.Kpressive of tlu' s-nse of this meeting, 
on the decease of Gov. Vroom. 

1. N. Dilts, H. M. Gaston, and J. V. Voorhces were aj)- 



THIBU'J'ES OF RESPECT. 5fl 

]t liiitcil a c •iiiiiuttei% nui\ repmti'd tlic iollowiiii; ii'suliitioiis : 

\ViiKi!';\s, lion. PctiT 1). Vroom. formerly unci for a long time a member 
of tlie bar of this ('ount}-. has departed tliis life since the last term of 
this Court ; as some slight indication of our appreciation of the charac- 
ter and worth of the illustrious deceased : 

R'Molved, That in the death of the late ex-Gov. Peter I). X'rooni, \vc 
unite with the bar of the State, in deploring the loss of an estimable citi- 
zen, — an abl(\ leirned and conscientious lawyer, an upright and laborious 
magistrate and judge, an exemplary and consistent Christian gentleman. 

Resolved. That we recall with interest and reverence the virtues and 
graces that adorned his character the suavity and dignity which marked 
liis intercourse with his prnfcs-ional brethren as well as the worhl — the 
V 1st eru lition which eminently tittcl him for the most exalted civil posi- 
tions. — and the unspotted integrity which shone so briglitly in his walk 
and conversation, as to .shield him from even the assaults of temptation. 

Re?olv(Hl, Tint with pride we enroll his name high on the list of dis- 
tinguished juri.sts and statesmen, given to our State and Cdunlry by the 
county of Somerset, their common birth place. 

Resolved, That we tender to liis family our sincere C(nid()leiice in their 
and our bereavement. 

Reolved. That the Circuit (-ourt of this county be retiuested to have a 
copy of these resolutions entered on the minutes, in testimony of re.sjiect 
for the memory of the deceased. 

Mr. Bartiiic, iti .si-cojidinLi; the i-csoltitioiis said : 

I feel that it i.s proper fur me as a iiiciiilxr oi' (his bar to 
add a hnv words in siipi)()rt of thi; resoliitioiis otl'.M'ed by the 
coiiitDittec. 

(jrov. VroDia was horn, roared and edncalcd in this (yoiin- 
ly. Ii<' praeticcd at this l)ar for more thati twenty years ; 
aud althouirh absent for a h)no; time his attaehtnents to his 
native County remained stron<^ and deep to tli<' last, and 
havin<; finisiied a lon<ij and usefid life, his rem lins at liis re- 
(I'lest were broiiixlit here and inteiicd near the h me' of his 
ehihJliood, oti IIk; banks of the Ilarifaii. 

It is fittini; tlierefore, that this l)ar shoidd in this manner 



60 TRIBUTES OF RESPECT. 

express the esteem in which it hehl his life, his character 
and his public services, and have the same entered upon the 
minutes of this Court. 

It is unnecessary for me to say that he deserves this mark 
<.f our respect. He adorned and exalted the profession of 
law and has left b(4iind him an honored and venerated 

name. 

Few men of our ^tate, if any, have so deservedly main- 
tained for so lon«,^ a period, an equal degree of intellectual 
;uul moral distinction. His fame is secure. Nothing that 
I may say can add to it. He was not only great but good. He 
plant 3d his standard firmly on the rock of virtue— the sum- 
mit of human greatness, and upon his long record rests not 
a single stain. He has done enough and done it so well and 
so honorably as to entitle him to a front rank among the 

irreat men of our State. 

• • • I 

And beyond all this he died as he had lived, in the taith 

of a Christian, adding another to the list of great men who 
have found the Gospel the word and the will .>f (Jod. I 
second the resolutions. 

The resolutions were unanimously adoi)ted, and the Sec- 
retary requested to foiward a copy of the same to the family 
of the deceased 



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